In Academics, specifically English Guided reading, the teachers have added word work and writing continues. Word work is learning about the sounds that letters make, the blending of sounds, the different spelling patterns of words, the irregular, sight words, how to decode text on the run.

Sacuanjoche had its 4th Annual Science Fair for grades 3rd -7th. This year due to the rigor of the science fair, it was decided that only upper elementary students and secondary students would be participating.

Sacuanjoche coordinated a beach clean up with grades 4th-7th. The beaches of Lake Nicaragua are very beautiful in Granada, except for the trash and other pollutants. The students, teachers and chaperons did their best to put a dent in the problem and we’ll do this again—it is an excellent socialization to change perceptions about trash and pollution. It starts with the children!

Finally, Sacuanjoche celebrated the 3rd Annual Sweetheart Dance in celebration of Valentine’s Day. It was so much fun that everyone forgot to take many pictures! The food and drinks were simple. The music was perfect and the venue was awesome. This year, due to our growth and lack of space, we were happy to be able to have the dance at El Recodo, one of the oldest houses in Granada. Parents danced together, parents and children danced together, children danced together and teachers danced with all of them! Such fun! The highlight of my wonderful time at Sacuanjoche (and there have been many!).

We have just received our Spanish reading assessments and our new Common Core standards-based math books—more on that soon!

Beth McLaughlin, Director of Sacuanjoche International School

Science Fair 2017

Eleven of our 12 finalists from 3rd through 7th grades.

Beach Clean-up

Sweetheart Dance

An Update on Our Self Sustainable Projects

store in Granada. Last year in April we completely revamped the store and gave it a new look. We decided that textiles would be the new direction of the store and we set out to find cooperatives and artists who could fulfill this need. In the mountains of Matagalpa, we encountered several women cooperatives producing amazing bags, purses, rugs and table runners, items perfect for our store. In Leon and Nindirí, we have weavers whose products are made into blankets, scarves, home goods and more. In Estelí, a woman is making beautiful straw hats as well as bags.OléIt has been almost two years since we raised the money to buy the

The profits from the store have provided over $8,000 toward the scholarship program and as sales continue to rise, we expect 2017 will be an amazing year for us.

In November, we opened the Sacuanjoche English Academy with children’s English classes each Saturday. The project is a success with over 30 children enrolled to date. We have two levels at this time and as our enrollment increases and our students progress, we will add levels as needed.

In March, because of a high demand, we will be starting Adult English classes on Monday and Wednesday nights. Our hopes are that employers will enroll their employees in the classes so that they can improve their life skills and be able to communicate with clients and tourists. The cost is only $30 per month, much less expensive than other classes in the city.

The English Academy generates additional income for our teachers as well as the school. Plus, a big advantage is that it promotes our school to students and parents whom we hope will be a part of our community in the future.

The Importance of Good Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively is a key skill, and the better we are at it, the better our quality of life will be.

We begin communicating from the moment we are born; letting our mothers know we have arrived with our first cry. As a child develops, it is important we nurture their communication skills so they are capable of expressing themselves, clearly and confidently, in all aspects and areas of their life.

If we consider the stages of a child’s development: they communicate first with their parents, then with siblings and friends, and then with other adults such as their school teachers.

When a child begins school, presentations, class discussions, dramatisations, and oral exams will become regular activities for them, all of which will call directly upon their verbal communication skills; likewise, they may, as part of the application process, have to go along to an interview when applying to a secondary school or sixth form. In these situations you will want a child to feel confident, not only speaking in front of a crowd or meeting a new acquaintance, but also assured in their own ability to converse fluently and make a good impression.

A child who is good at communicating verbally will find it easier to produce written communications, and thus will likely perform better in their school exams and written assignments.

Like any skill, communication skills can be developed and refined with practice, but by helping develop good communication skills in a child from their youth, you are equipping them straight away with the skills to build a successful future.

Our After School Programs

Our Scholarship Program

Sacuanjoche is proud to dedicate 35% of its student body to scholarships for children who otherwise would not be able to attend our fantastic school. We are giving back to the community and creating life long lovers of learning.

In order to continue supporting these children, we need to build up our scholarship fund. For just $30 per month, you are helping to shape the future of Nicaragua by educating the children.

We will be happy to bill you monthly, quarterly or annually. You can pay through PayPal, a credit card or a direct deposit into our stateside account. Help make a difference in the life of a child!

There are several other ways you can help with our Scholarship Program:
Provide a healthy and hot meal….$30 per month
Assist with Books and Materials…$25 one time fee
Uniforms…$35 one time fee

All donations are tax deductible under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Denzel. Denzel is a third grader who loves to learn and is always full of questions. Denzel lives with his grandparents so his mother can go to Costa Rica and work to earn the four of them an income. Although his grandparents are ailing, they make sure that Denzel is at school each day and prepared for class. Denzel loves to joke around and always has a smile on his face. He loves big bear hugs and loves going to school. Help us continue providing Denzel with a great education by donating to our scholarship program.

Tema Gilion is originally from the Midwest, but is now happy to be living here in Granada. She is new to Sacuanjoche and is teaching the 6th and 7th grade combined class this year. Her undergraduate work consists of an interdisciplinary K-8 education degree and she has a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Louisiana Monroe. Before coming to Sacuanjoche, she taught fifth grade math in the United States and was involved with curriculum development in the school district in which she worked. During this past summer, she worked on developing the 6th and 7th grade curriculum for Sacuanjoche. Tema’s hobbies and interests include traveling, spending time with family, and always learning new things. She is passionate about teaching and is very excited to be a part of Sacuanjoche International School and is committed to helping each student reach his or her full potential.

Saute beef and onions in oil. Add tomatoes, green chile, consomme, water and seasonings. Cook for 1.5 hours. Add potatoes and cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with flour tortillas or chips.

A Great Gift Idea!

The Sacuanjoche Cookbook will make a great birthday, anniversary, wedding, graduation, Mother’s Day or any occasion gift.

Our Sacuanjoche Cookbook is filled with recipes from all around the world. The recipes are from our school families and our local community. Enjoy recipes from Cafe de Arte, Pan de Vida and more. The recipes are in Spanish and English with pages of helpful hints and cooking terminology. We are happy to ship any where in the world for you and offer discounts on three or more books. The cost of each cookbook is $15.00. All proceeds go directly to our scholarship program.